The Dallas County Pretrial Diversion Program (PTD) offers a valuable lifeline for first-time offenders in Texas seeking to avoid a criminal record. Tailored for individuals who made a mistake but are committed to making it right, it provides an opportunity to have charges dismissed and expunged from their record. It’s a second chance that helps keep futures intact by focusing on access to treatment rather than punishment, offering support to those ready to turn their lives around.
In addition to helping clear your criminal record, a diversion program can help you learn new life skills, establish healthy, productive habits, and overcome addictions – all of which help avoid criminal behaviors. Diversion programs offer a fresh start, not only by creating the opportunity for expungement but also by equipping you with new tools to succeed.
If you’ve been arrested for a non-violent criminal offense, you can be “diverted” out of the criminal courts and into a specified reform program. When you successfully complete a true diversion program in Texas, the underlying case is dismissed, and your case becomes eligible for immediate expungement. It is important to note that diversion is a “predisposition” program. This means that you enter the program while the case is still open (before a plea bargain or trial).
Upon completion of a pre-trial diversion program, your case is dismissed, and you can file for expungement. You gain the freedom to pursue education and employment opportunities without the stigma of a criminal record. If you fail to complete the program, you are placed back into the usual process in the courts.
Pretrial diversion in Texas and Dallas is designed to tackle the root causes of criminal behavior, offering a way to break the cycle and keep individuals out of the criminal justice system for good. Locking up non-violent, low-level offenders is not only costly but often does more harm than good. These individuals don’t need punishment but a chance to change. They need to stop making destructive choices, rebuild their lives, and often fight to overcome addiction.
Qualification for diversion programs in Texas, including the Dallas County Pretrial Diversion Program, depends on several factors:
Contact experienced criminal defense lawyers to get more details about whether a person qualifies for the Dallas County Pretrial Diversion Program.
Getting arrested can be overwhelming and terrifying, but restorative justice might offer a way forward. If you’re facing charges, understanding the essentials of pretrial diversion in Texas could be the key to reclaiming your life. Here’s what you need to know to make the best decision for your future.
Pretrial diversion programs in Texas, including those like the Dallas County Diversion Program, typically result in charges being dismissed if the program is successfully completed. However, whether or not the initial arrest and participation in the program show up on a background check can vary.
Generally, the arrest may still appear on a background check unless the individual takes additional steps, such as seeking an expungement or non-disclosure order. Once granted, these legal actions can seal the record, making it inaccessible to most employers and ensuring that the pretrial diversion does not appear on future background checks.
A local criminal defense attorney is crucial in guiding you through these steps needed to successfully complete a Dallas County Pretrial Diversion Program or pretrial diversion in other Texas counties. From identifying the right program to determining your eligibility, assisting with the application, and eventually filing for expungement, an experienced lawyer ensures that you stay on the right track.
The M|C Criminal Law team is here to help you navigate this process with ’round-the-clock support and confidence. We believe that every person can and will do better. We believe in second chances and a brighter future. When non-violent offenders are helped to make better choices, provided the tools to succeed, and given the chance to return to productive lives with a clear criminal history, everyone in society wins.
Change starts with a single step. Reach out to us today, and together, we’ll turn this challenge into an opportunity for lasting change and a future where your past no longer defines you.
